Students from low- and high-income communities aspire to earn a degree or equivalent credential at similar rates. However, too many students—the vast majority of whom are students of color—are left to confront economic, academic, and social barriers that make it almost impossible to achieve their greatest postsecondary ambitions.
A closer look at the degree divide shows the vast majority of students who do not complete their postsecondary education are pushed out of the system between the final two years of high school and first year of a postsecondary program. This remains one of our nation’s most complex and critical injustices, with deep roots in systems of oppression and racism, and has persisted despite decades of work and millions invested.
The growing national attention to the degree divide crisis presents a unique opportunity for bold systemic change. Now is the time to explore high-impact, low-cost solutions that address the institutional and system-level barriers to student success, like our Classroom-Based Model and our Postsecondary Leadership Network. After 15 years of providing services to communities across the country, we know these solutions work.
The conversation about postsecondary education in the US is constantly changing. For students thinking about pursuing higher education and wondering, “where will college graduation take me?”, it’s critical to consider the benefits of earning a two- or four-year college degree.
OneGoal Director of Program Learning gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at her research process. Our most recent study looks at what root causes prevent students from completing their degrees.
Elgin U-46’s Lead Counselor Alexa Charsha and Director of Postsecondary Success Michele Chapman reflect on the challenges they worked to address as they built a districtwide vision to ensure all their graduates were prepared and supported to achieve postsecondary success.